Ethiopia Starts $12.5 Billion Bishoftu Airport Build Aimed at 2030, Targeting 110 Million Passengers a Year
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Ethiopian Airlines on Saturday officially launched a $12.5 billion construction project for what officials say will become Africa’s biggest airport when completed in 2030 in Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa. The state-owned airline won the contract to design the four-runway airport, located around 45 km (28 miles) from the capital.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali said on X that “Bishoftu International Airport will be the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa’s history.” He said the airport will have space to park 270 planes and capacity for 110 million passengers a year—more than four times the capacity of Ethiopia’s current main airport, which he said will reach its limits on existing traffic in the next two to three years.
Abraham Tesfaye, the airline’s Infrastructure Development & Planning Director, told reporters Ethiopian Airlines would fund 30% of the project, with lenders financing the remainder. He said the airline has already allocated $610 million for earthworks that are due to be completed in one year, and that main contractors are scheduled to start work in August 2026.
Tesfaye said the project was initially billed at $10 billion before being updated to $12.5 billion. He added that lenders from the Middle East, Europe, China and the United States have shown strong interest in financing.
The African Development Bank is among the creditors after saying last August it would lend $500 million and lead efforts to raise $8.7 billion. Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s biggest carrier, has continued expanding, adding six extra routes in 2024/25 while also growing revenues.
